Nucor Corp. v. United States , 2023 CIT 54 ( 2023 )


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  •                                   Slip Op. 23-54
    UNITED STATES COURT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
    NUCOR CORPORATION,
    Plaintiff,
    and
    STEEL DYNAMICS, INC.,
    Plaintiff-Intervenor,
    Before: Jennifer Choe-Groves, Judge
    v.
    Court No. 22-00050
    UNITED STATES,
    Defendant,
    and
    HYUNDAI STEEL COMPANY and
    GOVERNMENT OF THE
    REPUBLIC OF KOREA,
    Defendant-Intervenors.
    OPINION AND ORDER
    [Sustaining the final results of the administrative review by the U.S. Department of
    Commerce in the countervailing duty investigation of certain corrosion-resistant
    steel products from the Republic of Korea.]
    Dated: April 19, 2023
    Court No. 22-00050                                                         Page 2
    Adam M. Teslik, Wiley Rein, LLP, of Washington, D.C., argued for Plaintiff
    Nucor Corporation. With him on the brief were Alan H. Price, Christopher B.
    Weld, and Tessa V. Capeloto.
    Roger B. Schagrin, Christopher T. Cloutier, Elizabeth J. Drake, Luke A. Meisner,
    Jeffrey D. Gerrish, William A. Fennell, Nicholas J. Birch, Benjamin J. Bay, Kelsey
    M. Rule, Michelle R. Avrutin, and Saad Y. Chalchal, Schagrin Associates, of
    Washington, D.C., for Plaintiff-Intervenor Steel Dynamics, Inc.
    Kelly A. Krystyniak, Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil
    Division, U.S. Department of Justice, of Washington, D.C., argued for Defendant
    United States. With her on the brief were Brian M. Boynton, Principal Deputy
    Assistant Attorney General, Patricia M. McCarthy, Director, Claude Burke,
    Assistant Director, and Elizabeth Speck, Senior Trial Counsel, of Washington,
    D.C. Of Counsel on the brief was Ayat Mujais, Attorney, Office of the Chief
    Counsel for Trade Enforcement & Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce,
    Washington, D.C.
    Brady W. Mills, Donald B. Cameron, Julie C. Mendoza, R. Will Planert, Mary S.
    Hodgins, Eugene Degnan, Edward J. Thomas, III, Jordan L. Fleischer, and
    Nicholas C. Duffey, Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, of Washington, D.C., for
    Defendant-Intervenor Hyundai Steel Company.
    Daniel M. Witkowski, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, of Washington,
    D.C., argued for Defendant-Intervenor Government of the Republic of Korea.
    With him on the brief were Yujin K. McNamara, Sarah S. Sprinkle, Devin S.
    Sikes, Sydney L. Stringer, and Sung Un K. Kim.
    Choe-Groves, Judge: Plaintiff Nucor Corporation (“Nucor”) challenges the
    U.S. Department of Commerce’s (“Commerce”) Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel
    Products From the Republic of Korea (“Korea”): Final Results and Partial
    Recission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2019. Compl., ECF No.
    10; Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products From the Republic of Korea (“Final
    Results”), 
    87 Fed. Reg. 2759
     (Dep’t of Commerce Jan. 19, 2022) (final results and
    Court No. 22-00050                                                           Page 3
    partial recission of countervailing duty administrative review; 2019); see also
    Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Final Results and Partial Recission of
    the 2019 Administrative Review of the Countervailing Duty Order on Certain
    Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from the Republic of Korea (“Final IDM”), PR
    213.1
    Nucor challenges Commerce’s determination that the Government of
    Korea’s provision of electricity for less than adequate remuneration did not confer
    a benefit. Pl.’s R. 56.2 Mot. J. Agency R. and Mem. Supp. (“Pl.’s Br.”), ECF Nos.
    34, 35; Pl.’s Reply Br. Supp. R. 56.2 Mot. J. Agency R. (“Pl.’s Reply Br.”), ECF
    Nos. 45, 46. Defendant United States (“Defendant”), Defendant-Intervenor
    Hyundai Steel Company (“Hyundai Steel”), and the Government of the Republic
    of Korea (“Government of Korea”) argue that the Court should sustain the Final
    Results. Def.’s Resp. Br. Opp’n Pl.’s R. 56.2 Mot. J. Agency R. (“Def.’s Resp.
    Br.”), ECF No. 38; Def.-Interv.’s Resp. Br. Opp’n Pl.’s R. 56.2 Mot. J. Agency R.,
    ECF Nos. 36, 37; Def.-Interv.’s Corrected Mem. Opp’n Pl.’s R. 56.2 Mot. J.
    Agency R., ECF No. 42-2, 43-2. For the reasons discussed below, the Court
    sustains Commerce’s Final Results.
    1
    Citations to the administrative record reflect the public administrative record
    (“PR”) document numbers. ECF No. 48.
    Court No. 22-00050                                                            Page 4
    BACKGROUND
    Commerce published its countervailing duty order in the Federal Register.
    Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from India, Italy, Republic of Korea
    and the People’s Republic of China, 
    81 Fed. Reg. 48,387
     (Dep’t of Commerce July
    25, 2016) (countervailing duty order). Commerce initiated an administrative
    review of the countervailing duty order on certain corrosion-resistant steel products
    from Korea for the period of review of January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019.
    Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 
    85 Fed. Reg. 54,983
    , 54,990–91 (Dep’t of Commerce Sept. 3, 2020). Petitioners U.S.
    Steel Corporation (“U.S. Steel”) and Nucor filed new subsidy allegations. Letter
    from Cassidy Levy Kent (USA) LLP and Wiley Rein LLP to Sec’y Commerce, re:
    Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from the Republic of Korea:
    Petitioners’ New Subsidy Allegation (Jan. 4, 2021), PR 96. Nucor and U.S. Steel
    alleged that the Government of Korea provided countervailable subsidies to the
    steel industry in the form of electricity for less than adequate remuneration. See 
    id.
    Commerce initiated a review of the alleged subsidy. Memorandum from Dennis
    McClure to Irene Darzenta Tzafolias, re: Countervailing Duty Administrative
    Review of Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from the Republic of Korea:
    New Subsidy Allegation (Feb. 1, 2021), PR 109. Commerce issued supplemental
    questionnaires regarding the subsidy allegation to the Government of Korea and to
    Court No. 22-00050                                                           Page 5
    mandatory respondents Hyundai Steel and KG Dongbu Steel Co., Ltd. (“KG
    Dongbu”) (collectively, “mandatory respondents”), each of whom provided
    responses. Letter from Yoon & Yang LLC to Sec’y Commerce, re: Certain
    Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from the Republic of Korea, Case No. C-580-
    879: Government of Korea’s New Subsidy Allegations Questionnaire Response
    (Feb. 24, 2021) (“Government of Korea’s NSAQR”), PR 130; Letter from Morris,
    Manning & Martin, LLP to Sec’y Commerce, re: Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel
    Products from the Republic of Korea, Case No. C-580-879: Hyundai Steel’s New
    Subsidy Allegations Questionnaire Response (Feb. 24, 2021) (“Hyundai Steel’s
    NSAQR”), PR 129; Letter from Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP to Sec’y
    Commerce, re: Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from the Republic of
    Korea, Case No. C-580-879: Dongbu’s New Subsidy Allegations Questionnaire
    Response (Feb. 10, 2021) (“KG Dongbu’s NSAQR”), PR 123.
    Commerce issued the Preliminary Results and the Final Results of the
    administrative review. Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from the
    Republic of Korea (“Preliminary Results”), 
    86 Fed. Reg. 37,740
     (Dep’t of
    Commerce July 16, 2021) (preliminary results of countervailing duty
    administrative review, 2019); Preliminary Decision Memorandum accompanying
    Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products From the Republic of Korea 
    86 Fed. Reg. 37,740
     (Dep’t Commerce July 16, 2021 (prelim. results of countervailing
    Court No. 22-00050                                                             Page 6
    duty admin. rev., 2019) (“Prelim. DM”), PR 173; Final Results, 
    87 Fed. Reg. 2759
    ;
    Final IDM. In the Final IDM, Commerce explained that it applied a “Tier 3
    analysis” pursuant to 
    19 C.F.R. § 351.511
    (a)(2)(iii) to assess whether the
    electricity prices charged by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (“KEPCO”)
    were consistent with market principles by evaluating whether the electricity prices
    allowed for the recovery of costs plus a rate of recovery or profit. Final IDM at 15.
    Using this methodology, Commerce determined that some electricity prices were
    in line with market principles and some were not, with the difference between the
    price paid and the benchmark being the benefit conferred. 
    Id.
     Commerce
    determined that no measurable benefit was conferred in this administrative review.
    
    Id.
    Commerce calculated final subsidy rates of 0.47% or de minimis for
    Hyundai Steel and 10.51% for KG Dongbu. Final Results, 87 Fed. Reg. at 2760.
    JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
    The U.S. Court of International Trade has jurisdiction pursuant to 19 U.S.C.
    § 1516a(a)(2)(B)(iii) and 
    28 U.S.C. § 1581
    (c), which grant the Court authority to
    review actions contesting the final results of an administrative review of a
    countervailing duty order. The Court shall hold unlawful any determination found
    to be unsupported by substantial evidence on the record or otherwise not in
    accordance with the law. 19 U.S.C. § 1516a(b)(1)(B)(i).
    Court No. 22-00050                                                             Page 7
    DISCUSSION
    I.     Countervailable Subsidy Overview
    A countervailable subsidy exists when a foreign government provides a
    financial contribution to a specific industry that confers a benefit upon a recipient
    within the industry. 
    19 U.S.C. § 1677
    (5); see also Fine Furniture (Shanghai) Ltd.
    v. United States, 
    748 F.3d 1365
    , 1369 (Fed. Cir. 2014). A countervailable benefit
    shall normally be treated as conferred if goods or services are provided for less
    than adequate remuneration. 
    19 U.S.C. § 1677
    (5)(E)(iv); see also POSCO v.
    United States, 
    977 F.3d 1369
    , 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2020). “For purposes of clause (iv),
    the adequacy of remuneration shall be determined in relation to prevailing market
    conditions for the good or service being provided . . . in the country which is
    subject to the investigation or review. Prevailing market conditions include price,
    quality, availability, marketability, transportation, and other conditions of purchase
    or sale.” 
    19 U.S.C. § 1677
    (5)(E).
    Commerce’s regulations provide a three-tiered approach for determining the
    adequacy of remuneration of an investigated good or service. See 
    19 C.F.R. § 351.511
    (a)(2). The Tier 1 and Tier 2 analyses compare the government price to a
    market-based price for the good or service in the country in question, or in a world
    market. 
    Id.
     § 351.511(a)(2)(i), (ii). The Tier 3 analysis provides that when both an
    in-country market-based price and a world market price are unavailable,
    Court No. 22-00050                                                           Page 8
    Commerce examines whether the government price is consistent with market
    principles. Id. § 351.511(a)(2)(iii). Commerce makes this determination based on
    “information from the foreign government about how it sets its price.” Fine
    Furniture (Shanghai) Ltd., 
    748 F.3d at 1370
    . “[I]f Commerce determines that
    government pricing is not consistent with market principles, then ‘a benefit shall
    normally be treated as conferred.’” POSCO, 977 F.3d at 1372 (quoting 
    19 U.S.C. § 1677
    (5)(E)(iv)); see also Nucor Corp. v. United States, 
    927 F.3d 1243
     (Fed. Cir.
    2019) (discussing Commerce’s application of the three-tier methodology).
    II.    Nucor’s Allegations and Commerce’s Determination
    Nucor challenges as unsupported by substantial evidence and not in
    accordance with the law Commerce’s determination that the Government of
    Korea’s provision of electricity for less than adequate remuneration did not confer
    a benefit. Compl. at 8.
    A.    Whether Commerce’s Determination was in Accordance
    with the Law
    Nucor argues that Commerce’s determination was unlawful because
    Commerce disregarded the government price to respondents and purportedly
    should have determined whether a benefit was conferred to a specific respondent
    individually, not in the aggregate. See Pl.’s Br. at 12–24. Nucor asserts that 19
    Court No. 22-00050                                                                Page 9
    U.S.C. § 1677f–1(e) requires Commerce to determine whether a benefit was
    conferred to an individual entity. Id. at 12. 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(e)(1) states that:
    In determining countervailable subsidy rates . . . the administering
    authority shall determine an individual countervailable subsidy rate for
    each known exporter or producer of the subject merchandise.
    19 U.S.C. § 1677f–1(e)(1). Nucor contends that 19 U.S.C. § 1677f–1(e) requires
    Commerce to focus on the “prices that the respondents actually paid KEPCO for
    electricity” rather than KEPCO’s cost by classification data reflecting KEPCO’s
    total cost of sales and total sales income. Pl.’s Br. at 15.
    In the Final IDM, Commerce continued to determine that its Tier 3 analysis
    required Commerce to assess whether the electricity prices charged by KEPCO
    were consistent with market principles by evaluating whether the electricity prices
    allowed for the recovery of costs plus a rate of recovery or profit. Final IDM at 15.
    Commerce explained that Commerce’s analysis focused not on KEPCO’s total
    revenue, but on KEPCO’s methodology for determining the adequacy of its pricing
    through cost and revenue data. Id. at 16–17.
    Commerce determined that under the Tier 3 analysis: (1) KEPCO fully
    recovered costs and did not confer a benefit; or (2) the prices for electricity
    resulted in a non-measurable benefit during the period of review. Final IDM at 15.
    Commerce explained:
    Court No. 22-00050                                                           Page 10
    [O]ur [Tier 3] analysis for electricity in Korea assesses whether the
    electricity prices charged by KEPCO are consistent with market
    principles by evaluating the electricity prices to see if they allow for
    the recovery of costs, plus a rate of recovery or profit. This well-
    established approach has been relied upon by Commerce in many
    cases and upheld by the [U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit]
    in both Nucor and POSCO. To the extent that we determine that the
    electricity prices are in line with market principles, then we determine
    that no benefit is conferred. . . . In the instant review, we determined
    that some electricity prices were in line with market principles while
    others were not and, as such, for those categories that did not cover
    costs plus a rate of recovery, we calculated a benefit amount.
    Furthermore, KG Dongbu and Hyundai Steel reported paying
    electricity prices that are listed on KEPCO’s electricity rate schedule,
    and supporting documentation indicated that KG Dongbu and Hyundai
    Steel’s operations were classified under the correct electricity
    consumption categories.
    Id.
    Addressing Nucor’s argument that Commerce should apply a standard that
    directly compares the electricity prices paid by a respondent to the cost plus profit
    rate of KEPCO to determine whether a benefit exists, Commerce determined that:
    [O]ur analysis is not based on KEPCO’s total revenue but, instead,
    KEPCO’s methodology for determining the adequacy of its pricing
    through cost and revenue data. As such, our analysis only relates to
    financial performance to the extent income from prices charged for
    each electricity consumption category covers KEPCO’s costs, plus
    profit. Because, as stated above, KG Dongbu and Hyundai Steel paid
    electricity prices that are charged to all companies in the corresponding
    electricity consumption classifications, our analysis does, in fact,
    account for whether the prices KG Dongbu and Hyundai Steel paid
    were covering KEPCO’s costs.
    Court No. 22-00050                                                         Page 11
    Id. at 17. Defendant asserts that Commerce’s analysis was lawful and in
    conformity with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s (“CAFC”)
    decisions in Nucor Corp. v. United States, 
    927 F.3d 1243
     (Fed. Cir. 2019) and
    POSCO v. United States, 
    977 F.3d 1369
     (Fed. Cir. 2020). Def.’s Br. at 9–11.
    The Court notes that 19 U.S.C. § 1677f-1(e)(1) refers to the requirement that
    Commerce determine an individual countervailable subsidy rate for each known
    exporter or producer of the subject merchandise, which Commerce satisfied here
    when it determined individual countervailable subsidy rates of 0.47% for Hyundai
    Steel and 10.51% for KG Dongbu. Final Results, 87 Fed. Reg. at 2760. The
    language of 19 U.S.C. § 1677f–1(e)(1) does not require that Commerce focus on
    the prices that the respondents actually paid KEPCO for electricity, as alleged by
    Nucor. Commerce explained that notwithstanding Nucor’s challenge, Commerce
    did contemplate the prices paid by mandatory respondents Hyundai Steel and KG
    Dongbu when Commerce considered the prices paid by all companies, because
    Hyundai Steel and KG Dongbu paid the same prices that other companies paid
    within the corresponding electricity consumption classifications. Final IDM at 16–
    17.
    Nucor also contends that 
    19 C.F.R. § 351.503
    (b)(1) requires Commerce to
    analyze whether a benefit was conferred when an individual firm pays less for its
    Court No. 22-00050                                                             Page 12
    inputs than it would otherwise pay. Pl.’s Br. at 12. 
    19 C.F.R. § 351.503
    (b)(1)
    states that:
    For other government programs, [Commerce] normally will consider a
    benefit to be conferred where a firm pays less for its inputs (e.g., money,
    a good, or a service) than it otherwise would pay in the absence of the
    government program, or receives more revenues than it otherwise
    would earn.
    
    19 C.F.R. § 351.503
    (b)(1). Nucor argues that 
    19 C.F.R. § 351.503
    (b)(1) compels
    Commerce to consider the price paid by “the firm” or an individual respondent.
    Pl.’s Br. at 12.
    Commerce explained that “[w]hile Nucor appears to argue that we should
    disregard a market analysis of KEPCO’s pricing and simply focus on the price
    charged to the respondents, 19 [C.F.R. §] 351.511(a)(2)(iii) necessarily requires
    that we evaluate whether KEPCO’s pricing is consistent with market principles,
    which the record demonstrates.” Final IDM at 17. 
    19 C.F.R. § 351.511
    (a)(2)(iii)
    states in relevant part:
    If there is no world market price available to purchasers in the country
    in question, the Secretary will normally measure the adequacy of
    remuneration by assessing whether the government price is consistent
    with market principles.
    
    19 C.F.R. § 351.511
    (a)(2)(iii).
    As discussed above, Commerce considered the prices paid by mandatory
    respondents KG Dongbu and Hyundai Steel when Commerce considered the prices
    Court No. 22-00050                                                            Page 13
    paid by all companies, because KG Dongbu and Hyundai Steel paid the same
    prices that other companies paid within the corresponding electricity consumption
    classifications. Moreover, Commerce’s determination regarding whether the
    prices paid by all companies, including KG Dongbu and Hyundai Steel, were
    consistent with market principles, was in conformity with the relevant statute’s
    instruction for Commerce to determine the adequacy of remuneration in relation to
    prevailing market conditions, including price, quality, availability, marketability,
    transportation, and other conditions of purchase or sale. 
    19 U.S.C. § 1677
    (5)(E).
    When conducting a Tier 3 analysis, the CAFC has held that Commerce has
    “considerable prima facie leeway to make a reasonable choice within the
    permissible range” of calculation methodologies, so long as that choice is properly
    justified “based on the language and policies of the countervailing-duty statute . . .
    and other relevant considerations.” Nucor Corp., 
    927 F.3d at 1255
    . The Court
    concludes that Commerce’s determination was reasonable and in accordance with
    the law.
    B.     Whether Commerce’s Determination was Supported by
    Substantial Evidence
    Nucor challenges as unsupported by substantial evidence Commerce’s
    determination that the Government of Korea’s provision of electricity for less than
    adequate remuneration did not confer a benefit. Compl. at 8. In order to analyze
    Court No. 22-00050                                                         Page 14
    the structure of the Korean electricity market and the role that the Korean Power
    Exchange (“KPX”) played in price setting, Commerce reviewed record documents,
    including questionnaire responses filed by the Government of Korea, KG Dongbu,
    and Hyundai Steel regarding the structure of the Korean electricity market and
    operations of KEPCO. Final IDM at 15–19; Government of Korea’s NSAQR;
    Letter from Yoon & Yang LLC to Sec’y Commerce, re: Certain Corrosion-
    Resistant Steel Products from the Republic of Korea, Case No. C-580-879:
    Government of Korea’s New Subsidy Allegations Supplemental Questionnaire
    Response (Mar. 11, 2021) (“Government of Korea’s Supplemental NSAQR”), PR
    140; KG Dongbu’s NSAQR; Hyundai Steel’s NSAQR; Letter from Yoon & Yang
    LLC to Sec’y Commerce, re: Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from the
    Republic of Korea, Case No. C-580-879: Government of Korea’s New Subsidy
    Allegations Second Supplemental Questionnaire Response (Apr. 13, 2021)
    (“Government of Korea’s Second Supplemental NSAQR”), PR 146.
    For example, Commerce reviewed the Government of Korea’s NSAQR to
    support Commerce’s determination that KG Dongbu and Hyundai Steel reported
    paying electricity prices that were listed on KEPCO’s electricity rate schedule and
    that KG Dongbu and Hyundai Steel’s operations were classified under the correct
    electricity consumption categories. Final IDM at 15. Exhibit E-9 to the
    Government of Korea’s NSAQR cited by Commerce is a document entitled
    Court No. 22-00050                                                               Page 15
    “Electricity Tariff Schedules” and provides applicable rate schedules for various
    classifications of electricity, including industrial electricity rates for different
    voltage levels with corresponding demand charge in won/kWh and energy charge
    in won/kWh. Id.; Government of Korea’s NSAQR at Exhibit E-9. Commerce also
    cited KG Dongbu’s NSAQR at Exhibits NSA-2 to NSA-3, which are documents
    entitled “Electricity Template” and “Electricity Bills for July 2019,” and Hyundai
    Steel’s NSAQR at Exhibits NSA-2 to NSA-3, which are documents entitled
    “Electricity Template” and “Electricity Bills for July 2019.” Final IDM at 15; KG
    Dongbu’s NSAQR at Exhibits NSA-2, NSA-3. Commerce determined based on a
    review of these record documents that KG Dongbu and Hyundai Steel reported
    paying electricity prices that were listed on KEPCO’s electricity rate schedule.
    Final IDM at 15.
    Commerce also determined based on record evidence that KPX’s
    standardized electricity pricing system included fixed and variable costs to ensure
    that the expected rate of return was suitably allocated between the independent
    generators along with KEPCO and the six wholly-owned subsidiary generators
    (GENCOs) in the KPX market. See Final IDM at 17–18. For example, Commerce
    cited the Government of Korea’s NSAQR to support its determination that KEPCO
    was obligated to pay the GENCOs for the total cost of generating electricity,
    including interest on loans, even if KEPCO was not profitable. Final IDM at 17;
    Court No. 22-00050                                                             Page 16
    Government of Korea’s NSAQR at 27 (stating that “if KEPCO makes profit from
    the sales of electricity, such profit is shared with its generators, and vice versa.
    KEPCO and its subsidiaries enjoy the profits and share the risks because KEPCO
    wholly owns its six subsidiaries, and KEPCO needs to have its subsidiaries operate
    stably. Nevertheless, KEPCO is obligated to pay its subsidiaries the total cost . . .
    regardless of whether KEPCO has made profits or not”).
    Commerce determined based on record evidence such as the Government of
    Korea’s Supplemental NSAQR that the Government of Korea provided a detailed
    explanation and supporting documentation of how KEPCO’s profit rate was
    calculated and how it was based on KEPCO’s operations. Final IDM at 18 (citing
    the Government of Korea’s Second Supplemental NSAQR at 7–8) (providing
    answers to questions detailing how the rate of return was calculated)). Commerce
    also determined based on record evidence that the prices paid by KG Dongbu and
    Hyundai Steel were those set by KEPCO’s electricity rate schedules. 
    Id.
     at 19
    (citing the Government of Korea’s NSAQR at Exhibit E-9) (providing rate
    schedules for electricity)).
    The Court notes that Nucor alleges that “overwhelming record evidence to
    the contrary” shows that Commerce’s determination is not supported by substantial
    evidence, but Nucor fails to provide evidence substantiating this claim. Pl.’s Br. at
    22. Mere allegations are insufficient to raise doubts as to the veracity of the
    Court No. 22-00050                                                         Page 17
    evidence upon which Commerce relied in making its determination. Asociacion
    Colombiana de Exportadores de Flores v. United States, 
    13 CIT 13
    , 15, 
    704 F. Supp 1114
    , 1117 (1989) (holding that “[s]peculation is not support for a finding”).
    The Court concludes that Commerce’s determination is supported by
    substantial evidence because Commerce cited record documents, including the
    questionnaire responses of the Government of Korea, KG Dongbu, and Hyundai
    Steel, showing that the respondents did not receive a measurable benefit and “KG
    Dongbu and Hyundai Steel paid electricity prices that are charged to all companies
    in the corresponding electricity consumption classifications[.]” Final IDM at 17;
    see POSCO, 977 F.3d at 1374 (“If the rate charged is consistent with the standard
    pricing mechanism and the company under investigation is, in all other respects,
    essentially treated no differently than other companies and industries which
    purchase comparable amounts of electricity, then there is no benefit.”).
    Court No. 22-00050                                                         Page 18
    CONCLUSION
    The Court holds that Commerce’s determination that the Government of
    Korea does not subsidize the Korean steel industry through the provision of
    electricity for less than adequate remuneration is supported by substantial evidence
    and in accordance with the law. The Court sustains the Final Results. Judgment
    will issue accordingly.
    /s/ Jennifer Choe-Groves
    Jennifer Choe-Groves, Judge
    Dated:     April 19, 2023
    New York, New York
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 22-00050

Citation Numbers: 2023 CIT 54

Judges: Choe-Groves

Filed Date: 4/19/2023

Precedential Status: Precedential

Modified Date: 4/20/2023